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Children’s Choir

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STAW CHILDREN’S CHOIR!

Starting Thursday, January 17th, 2019, we are thrilled to welcome Jacob Autio (M.Mus., B.Ed.) the music director of BC Kodály Choir. Jacob has studied in Ottawa, England, Western Canada, Hungary and the United States.

He has taught elementary and kindergarten in public schools in Campbell River, Burnaby and Surrey school districts and “works to create joyful musical experiences with his students”

Why StAW’s Children’s Choir?

StAW Children’s Choir kids get to be kids! Kids learn to sing and play with one another. Many other children’s choirs are performance and outcome driven while StAW choir not only provides a place for kids to learn to sing and perform, but also a place for them to learn songs and games that they can take with them though out their lives.

StAW Children’s Choir is based on the foundation that all children are artistic and actively help make artistic decisions. The medium we use to express our art is singing.All children are welcome and celebrated for who they are!

StAW Children’s Choir is located in one of Vancouver’s premier performance venues.

StAW is affordable & meant to be another place to sing! If you sing in other choirs you can still sing with us. If your school has a choir you should sing your school choir as well as with StAW Children’s Choir.

What happens in the 1-hour class with Jacob?

Actively using our bodies and our voices to help us discover all the possibilities and capabilities of the human voice.

The songs we sing come from around the world and from across time. We look into the meaning of the words we sing and how we can share the message or the story of the words and how we can use our voices to express what we want to share.

We play games and folk dances that require us to sing together and work together like Closet Key where we hide a key and can only help the finder by singing louder and softer (like hot and cold), echoing singing patterns and being careful to not sing back the Poison Pattern, hand clapping games and partner switching games, and many more! From these games, we will figure out little bits of reading music so that we can become more well-rounded musicians!

Learning Outcomes

Healthy singing: we learn to sing beautifully by ourselves and with others. We feel the benefits of singing with energy that makes our whole bodies vibrate and connect with the vibrations of other singers. Everyone can learn to sing!

Healthy relationships: we learn to celebrate each other’s gifts and help one another along their musical journey. We learn to listen to one another, to share the spotlight, to lift each other up, and to work together with anyone and everyone.

Why Kodaly method?

Jake’s Why for Kodály: Kodály-inspired teaching is about connecting to our personal voices and stories and joining with one another through singing and then learning to become a more refined musical artist.

Some great videos on getting to know more about Kodály and his method:

Some testimonials from students and families that learned with Jacob:

Sasha – grade 11:

“Over my 5 years in choir, I’ve been able to make so many new friends and learn so much about music and myself. When I first joined, I thought I would never be confident enough to sing in front anybody. Kodály Choir has helped me be able to erase my fears and teach me about music, while having fun with some of my closest friends.”

Sophie – grade 11

“I love choir because it makes me connected and lets me learn more about music while having fun. 5 years in choir has allowed me to meet so many amazing friends, expand my knowledge of music, and become more confident in my singing.” .

Sara – grade 10

“ Hi my name is Sara and I joined choir in the middle of last year. I’ll be honest, at first I was a bit nervous, but when I arrived, I immediately felt welcomed and at home. Joining choir was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have made so many new friends, and each rehearsal is so much fun and educational at the same time. I really hope you join us and become a part of our choir family too!”

From a parent email:

Vivien – “Thank you for everything. I can’t talk in English well. But Becky and i both think that you are a really good teacher: the way you teach,the love you have to choir and students.You are the first and only teacher Becky met after school in Surrey. She is a little shy and need time to decide what she likes.She really likes you. Two months,maybe not a lot progress in singing,the most important is the interest ,or love to the singing.I myself was really shocked in the final concert.I have never felt so moved by songs before.Those songs you have us sung with you together like sunshines,let me feel warm and happy.It is really lucky to meet you here,to be your student. Best wishes for you and your family.”